Eleven men, long odds, one live rooster. Remembering Canada’s lone World Cup appearance

In the summer of 1986, Canada’s men’s national soccer team played three games in Mexico for their first (and still only) World Cup appearance. Nearly 30 years later, the men who took the field in red and white remember it like it was yesterday. Leading up to the tournament, the team had talent and experience, but qualification out of CONCACAF was no given. For the Canadians, it all boiled down to a crucial home-and-away series with Honduras.

Canada arrived in Celje, Slovenia surprisingly confident despite having lost to the Czech Repbulic 2-0 on Friday. Much has been made of the National Team's current run of form, and most glaring throughout 2013 is that only one goal has been scored, by Marcus Haber against Japan back in March. Against the Czechs, Canada was surprisingly able to create some decent opportunities on goal, while at the other end, Lars Hirschfeld was on point and a big reason why the scoreline was kept in check. Slovenia are ranked 30th by FIFA, while Canada now sits 111, a massive disparity and cause for concern that if the Central European nation was on point, this game could get out of hand

A group of energetic teenagers under the watch of a man in his 60s with a reputation as a disciplinarian … it sounds like a recipe for disaster. Or perhaps like a disastrous Hollywood comedy.

As it turns out, the combination describes Canada’s men’s national team during its first training camp of 2014, and by all accounts, it has the makings of a hit.

Head coach Benito Floro brought a roster of mostly untested youngsters to the 10-day, Florida-based camp to evaluate some of the talent that will be available to him in the years ahead. The players – most of whom have little, if any, experience with the senior national team – also got the chance to evaluate Floro, the 61-year-old Spaniard who took over the job in August. With camp set to wrap up on Wednesday, the early reviews are positive.

“He’s amazing,” recently signed Toronto FC striker Jordan Hamilton, 17, told MLSsoccer.com by phone from camp. “He’s taught me so many things in this past week that I’d been doing the past two years, flaws in my game, and he’s corrected them in just a week of watching me play. It says a lot about him.”

The Canadian Soccer Association announced on Friday that it will convene a men’s national team training camp from Jan. 12 to 22 in Sunrise, Fla. – and the emphasis is, clearly and unequivocally, on the program’s future.

A strong majority of the squad is 21 years old or younger, and will be eligible to be part of the Under-23 team that will attempt to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games.

CanMNT: Dwayne De Rosario considering overseas interest but remains open to MLS return

Dwayne De Rosario’s time at D.C. United may be over, but he’s not counting out a return to Major League Soccer. That is, if the right opportunity presents itself, of course.

In a phone conversation from Austria, where Canada is training ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against Slovenia, De Rosario confirmed that he is considering overseas options as he looks to continue his club career in 2014, though he declined to be specific.

But the four-time MLS Cup winner and one-time league MVP is also definitely interested in continuing his MLS career. It just comes down to finding the right situation.

“I’ve had an unbelievable experience playing in that league and a great time there, and if it’s time to move on from there, so be it,” De Rosario told MLSsoccer.com. “If not, then I definitely look forward to another year, two, three in Major League Soccer.”

Kevin McKenna – FC Koln (GER – B2): Friday, September 27, did not play in a 1-0 victory over Aalen.

Rob Friend – 1860 Munich (GER – B2): Tuesday, September 24, subbed in at the 112th minute in a 2-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund in the DFB Pokal. Sunday, September 29, played all 90 minutes in a 3-0 loss to Kaiserslautern.

Olivier Occean – Kaiserslautern (GER - D1): Wednesday, September 25, played all 90 minutes and scored A GOAL in a 3-1 victory over Hertha BSC in the DFB Pokal. Sunday, September 29, played 69 minutes in a 3-0 victory over 1860 Munich.

Andre Hainault – Aalen (GER – B2): Friday, September 27, did not play in a 1-0 loss against Koln.

Adam Straith – Wehen Wiesbaden (GER - D3): Saturday, September 28, did not play in a 1-1 draw with Stuttgart II.

Julian De Guzman – Skoda Xanthi (GRE – D1): Sunday, September 29, played all 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to PAS Giannina.

Tomer Chencinski – Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR – D1): Saturday, September 28, did not play in a 3-0 victory over Ironi Kiryat Shmona.

Roberto Stillo – Perugia (ITA – D3): Sunday, September 29, did not play in a 2-0 victory over Lecce.

Lars Hirschfeld – Valerenga (NOR – D1): Sunday, September 29, did not play in a 2-1 loss to Odd.

Controversy In CanadaVancouver fans up in arms over national team's "home" stadium

TORONTO – The Canadian Soccer Association's announcement on Thursday that all four men’s national team home matches will be held in Toronto has sparked a passionate response across the country.

When the news hit, fans took to social media and message boards to chime in on the decision, and the reaction was predictably mixed. While Toronto-area supporters were understandably elated to find out that they’d be able to see the national team in person four times this year, some fans from elsewhere in Canada questioned the move.

I think that it’s kind of shameful that if you’re trying to grow the game across the country and get people to follow the Canadian game, and not their grandfather’s team of Italy or England, that these games aren’t in Vancouver or Montreal or Edmonton,” Graham said. “Let’s face it, why should I cheer for the Canadian national team if they never play where I live?”

TUCSON, Ariz. – A new year, a young, revamped squad and a new coach at the helm. Yet it was more of the same for the Canadian national team on Saturday, as Denmark rolled to an easy 4-0 win in a friendly at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Andreas Cornelius had a hat trick and Kasper Lorentzen added a goal for good measure as a completely Danish Superliga-based squad had its way with a Canadian team that saw six players picking up their first senior caps.

Canada's defense was soft throughout and could manage little resistance despite the presence of veterans Dwayne De Rosario, Terry Dunfield, Dejan Jakovic and Lars Hirschfeld on the pitch.

EDMONTON, AB; MONTREAL, QC; TORONTO, ON; VANCOUVER, BC - Canada’s four professional soccer clubs – FC Edmonton, Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC – announced today their unanimous support for the candidacy of Mr. Rob Newman in the upcoming election for president of the Canadian Soccer Association’s (CSA) board of directors. The election will take place at the CSA’s Annual General Meeting in Ottawa, Ontario, on Saturday, May 5.

As committed stakeholders in Canadian soccer, FC Edmonton, Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC stand together in the strong belief that there is massive potential to grow soccer at all levels in Canada. For this to be truly achieved, Canadian soccer requires a strong national governing body to build relationships between all stakeholders, enhance fiscal responsibility and growth, and deliver a clear pathway for player development that will result in improved on-field performance of national teams at all levels. CSA governance reform and the ensuing support of the corporate community are essential to achieving this growth, requiring a move from an operational to a skills-based governing board.

It has been less than a 100 days since Victor Montagliani was elected president of the Canadian Soccer Association, on a campaign of culture change and promising to take Canadian soccer to the next level, and already he has the CSA aiming high.

On the phone from British Columbia, Montagliani confirmed to CBC Sports that the CSA has had discussions with FIFA about hosting a Men's World Cup. And while the next bidding process will not start for a couple of years still, Montagliani and the CSA are clearly already laying the groundwork to bring the world's largest sporting event to Canada. "It's not only a possibility; it's something we intend to do," Montagliani said. "We have verbally told FIFA that when the bid process begins for the next available World Cup, which would be the 2026 World Cup, that the CSA will be one of the countries putting in a formal proposal.

Three decades later, why is Canada still watching the World Cup from home?

THE WORD is MLSsoccer.com's regular long-form series focusing on the biggest topics and most intriguing personalities in North American soccer. This week, contributor Daniel Squizzato examines the beleaguered history of Canadian soccer and tries to explain the many reasons why the country has not qualified for the World Cup in nearly 30 years.

Peter Montopoli: Canada has no plans to share World Cup 2026 bid with another nation

The General Secretary of the Canadian Soccer Association made it clear: When Canada bids for the World Cup, it won’t have a dance partner.

Peter Montopoli was in Edmonton Wednesday, speaking to the Chamber of Commerce about the coming U-20 Women’s World Cup and the Women’s World Cup in 2015. But the Canadian Soccer Association’s bid for the 2026 World Cup, which is expected to go to FIFA some time in 2016, also came up.

And, when he was asked about the possibility of submitting a shared bid, Montopoli said the answer is no.

“It’s a single bid. (http://imgur.com/a/5ZfCR)It’s Canada, at this moment. It’s Canada, the Canadian Soccer Association that will be bidding, and we will continue along that line. There really have been no discussions on joint bids, either Mexico or the United States. It’s not a position we’re taking. It is a straight bid from the Canadian Soccer Association.”

CSA president says Canadians should focus on qualifying for Copa America, not bellyaching over the process

CONMEBOL and CONCACAF made it official. The Copa America will be pan-American tournament in 2016.

There were shouts of joy, as the lucrative American and Mexican television markets will be ensured marquee match-ups between the two CONCACAF powers and the big boys from South America. Of course, the Americans and Mexicans would get two automatic qualifying spots for Copa America. It makes good business and sporting sense.

But, when it come to the remaining CONCACAF slots in the Copa America… it doesn’t seem very equitable to Canada.

The winners of the Centro America tourney (which, by nature of geography, Canada doesn’t participate in) and the winner of the Caribbean championship (which, by nature of geography, Canada doesn’t participate in) each get spots in the Copa America.

That leaves two spots, which will be determined in a playoff of top teams from the 2015 Gold Cup.

Eleven men, long odds, one live rooster. Remembering Canada’s lone World Cup appearance

In the summer of 1986, Canada’s men’s national soccer team played three games in Mexico for their first (and still only) World Cup appearance. Nearly 30 years later, the men who took the field in red and white remember it like it was yesterday. Leading up to the tournament, the team had talent and experience, but qualification out of CONCACAF was no given. For the Canadians, it all boiled down to a crucial home-and-away series with Honduras.

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